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The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC):
Three amendment regulations to amend the subsidiary legislation under the Electoral Affairs Commission Ordinance, aiming to improve voter registration procedures and enhance the fairness and openness of the electoral system were gazetted today (January 22).
"The amendments seek to advance the statutory deadline for applying for change of registration particulars to align with the deadline for new registration in relation to voter registration.
"By doing so, all requests for updating of registration particulars filed in that voter registration cycle will be reflected in the provisional registers for public inspection. This can enhance the overall transparency of the voter registration system and prevent electors' addresses from being maliciously amended by a third party after publication of the provisional registers," a spokesman for the EAC said.
"The other amendments concern the use of surface mail instead of registered post for sending inquiry letters and other electoral notifications issued by the Electoral Registration Officer to minimise inconvenience to electors and the risk of losing their registration inadvertently," he added.
The three regulations to be amended comprise the EAC (Registration of Electors) (Legislative Council Geographical Constituencies) (District Council Constituencies) Regulation, the EAC (Registration) (Electors for Legislative Council Functional Constituencies) (Voters for Election Committee Subsectors) (Members of Election Committee) Regulation, and the EAC (Registration of Electors) (Rural Representative Election) Regulation.
The amendment regulations will be tabled in the Legislative Council on January 27 for negative vetting. Subject to negative vetting by the Legislative Council, they will come into operation on March 18.
Ends/Friday, January 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:01
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